Lot values may be on their way up if State has its way

County Assessor Kris Bell brought up the matter of the assessment of lot values. She has been instructed by the state that the lot values in the county are too low. Residential values have increased by 18 percent and the state wants the lot values brought in line. If the county doesn't raise the lot values, then the state can come in and put a lot value on and the county won't be able to do anything about it. But, if the county acts first then they can do the minimum assessment. Bell has asked the state to hold off until 2008 to make this lot value increase. The lot value increase is dealing with vacant lots within the cities only. It also only affects lots which are buildable. If a lot is not buildable then a letter would need to be brought into the assessor's office explaining why the lot cannot be used for a house. Lot values are determined by acreage involved.

Commissioner Jeff Horrocks stated he would like some more dialogue with the state before implementing an increase.

The discussion turned to centrally assessed properties like utilities and why they don't pay taxes on the full value of their holdings. The homeowners always seem to get stuck with the tax increases and have to pay what their homes are worth. It was determined that Bell would set up an appointment with the tax commission to discuss the valuations in Emery County.

The Emery County Commissioners then approved the bid by Ronald Barney of Ferron for the scrap metal at the landfill. The bid was $37 per ton.

Commissioner Gary Kofford reported on the agreement between Consol Mining and Emery County for any repairs to the Consol road which are the result of subsidence. Consol is going to pull pillars in the area below where the road is which could cause cracks in the road. County Attorney David Blackwell and the attorneys from Consol have reached an agreement which the commission approved.

Gaylee Jeffs spoke to the commission about the upcoming Youth Leadership summit which will be held on Sept. 22. She said the keynote speaker will be Nicole Nolton who is a Columbine school shooting survivor. The attendees will receive three meals, attend workshops and a dance. They will also do a service project making sheriff's bags of stuffed animals, games and prizes to be donated to the sheriff's office to use for young children. "Last year we had youth from Carbon and Sanpete counties as well as Emery County. We hope to increase our numbers each year. One of the workshops will be alcohol awareness by Sgt. Martin Wilson and Miss Utah 2006," said Jeffs.

The commission approved a donation of $250 to help with the summit.

The commission then discussed the change of ownership of the power line at the landfill. Separate meters will be placed for the separate entities using the power there, including the sheriff's office shooting range, recreation department shooting range and the land fill. Bids will be advertised for someone to do the work on the power there and change the line over to Rocky Mountain Power. As things are now, no one can be allowed to hook onto that line.

The Bureau of Land Management has a 2005 Jeep they will donate for use to the sheriff's office for Ray Jeffs the desert deputy. His vehicle is worn out and it's not in the budget to replace his vehicle at this point in time. The BLM vehicle will serve to get Jeffs through the interim until a new vehicle can be purchased. The BLM vehicle has 80,000 miles compared to 160,000 on Jeff's vehicle. The county will pay for the maintenance of the Jeep, fuel costs and any repairs. The vehicle has new tires and brakes. The commission approved the agreement with the BLM for this vehicle.

The commission approved the hiring of a door hardware consultant for the pool project. Beacon Metals will serve in this capacity.

In the commission reports, Commissioner Horrocks reported he had been to the local government trust insurance meeting. Part of their discussion was on how the county can receive dividends. He said the museum roof project is well underway and should come in at cost.

Commissioner Kofford said the design had been submitted for the asphalt on 18 miles of the South Moore cut-off road. According to the UDOT schedule the project will be advertised in August, approved by mid-October and awarded. The actual paving will begin as weather permits in spring 2008. He also reported attending the public lands department tour to the Pines area and to view the prescribed burn in the Jungle.

The ground is being prepared for the senior center in Green River. The approval to begin the bidding process will take place at the municipal building authority meeting and the actual bids will be opened at MBA on Aug. 7.

Commissioner Sitterud reported with the new 911 system costs have risen to $4,000 a month. Bret Mills from the sheriff's office will be writing a grant to the state of Utah to help defray the costs of the new system.

All 911 calls now go to Salt Lake and then back to the county. The costs of the different carriers in this process have added to the rise in operating costs. Commissioner Sitterud said they are looking at ways to lower these costs and a possible microwave system might be cheaper using the same towers as the television system. This will be looked at in the future.

Commissioner Sitterud reported the Muddy Creek Bridge kiosk will be placed in the Emery park alongside the kiosk that's already there. A site by the bridge itself was not feasible.

The road to the pool is almost complete. The bids for the subcontractors for the pool will be out on July 19.